Golden: Weekend express buses boost city’s economy

May 30, 2017 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Saturday and Sunday service on the X28 express bus, which has been running on a temporary basis since September, will now become permanent. Eagle file photo by Paula Katinas

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Calling it a decision “good for the community, good for the environment and good for the economy,” state Sen. Marty Golden is praising a move by MTA to permanently reinstate weekend service on the X28 express bus between Southwest Brooklyn and midtown Manhattan.

The MTA Board voted on May 24 to make weekend service on the X28, which the agency had brought back for a six-month trial, permanent.

Weekend service on the X28 was eliminated in 2010 as part of a service reduction plan implemented by the MTA to cut costs. In September 2016, the agency reinstated weekend X28 buses for a six-month trial period.

Golden submitted testimony at a public hearing in April, calling on MTA to bring back the X28 on weekends for good. Golden also organized a petition drive calling on MTA to restore weekend express buses.

Golden testified that his office had received countless requests from southwest Brooklyn residents who told him that the weekend service was an important transportation option because it gave them the opportunity to shop, visit entertainment venues and go to work on the weekends without having to use their cars.

“The X28 is a lifeline for our communities to Manhattan on the weekend,” Golden said. “I thank the MTA Board for making a decision in the best interest of our community. The X28 is an essential part of our mass transit system, and weekend service is warranted by the ridership that we’ve seen during the trial period.”

The X28 operates between West 37th Street and Surf Avenue in Coney Island to Madison Avenue and East 57th Street in Manhattan. The bus travels through Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge on its way to Manhattan.

Under the new schedule, Saturday service operates to Manhattan from 6 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. Brooklyn-bound service runs from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

On Sundays, the X28 operates to Manhattan from 7 a.m. to 7:15 p.m., with Brooklyn-bound buses running between 8:30 a.m. and 9 p.m.

On Saturdays, the buses run every 30-40 minutes, and on Sundays, every 30-60 minutes.

Visit mta.info/ for more information on the X28 express bus.